The mission of Emerson School is to provide a whole child, multiple method approach to instruction for gifted and for academically talented students. Emerson School encourages creativity, problem solving, and the development of basic skills, while providing a warm, supportive environment that promotes responsibility for oneself and others.

Emerson School strives to make all students, faculty, administrators, and parents feel safe, respected and valued in her/his identity as full members of the school community. We are dedicated to an ever-increasingly diverse learning environment that will best prepare our students to intelligently engage in a complex, globally-interconnected society. At Emerson,diversity is thought of in terms of ethnicity, gender, race, religion, sexual orientation, learning styles, socio-economic status, and family structure. Emerson School has a growing partnership with Peace Neighborhood Center in Ann Arbor (http://www.peaceneighborhoodcenter.org),whose mission is to provide programs for children, families, and individuals affected by social and economic problems. We have enrolled two students from Peace and are preparing to recruit several more for the next school year.Also, we are working closely with Lalitha Shastri, a consultant on equity and justice in independent schools (http://www.lalithashastri.com), as we regularly examine our school culture and entire curriculum through the multicultural lens.Our student body consistently includes over 30%students of color and attracts students from over fifteen communities in the greater Ann Arbor area. The placement of this profile here and in other publications that reach teachers of color, represents our commitment to recruiting more faculty of color as well. Emerson School enjoys a vast amount of cultural connections to the University of Michigan in town, and the Detroit area, less than an hour away. The Ann Arbor area is very attractive to many people because there are abundant sources available to enhance one’s quality of life.

Lalitha Shastri’s Work with Emerson School:

“Emerson School is thoughtful, deliberate and measured in its actions on diversity,multiculturalism and equity. As I work with Emerson on its school culture and K-8 curriculum, I am struck by the clear desire of faculty, staff and leadership to not merely make diversity an add-on but to embed it in the fabric of the school. They recognize the complexity of the process, asking deep questions and engaging intellectually as well as sensitively for the good of their students. There are two things that distinguish Emerson in these efforts:the full and active participation of its leaders, and the courage to look at itself without defensiveness or denial. I am honored to advise Emerson School as it moves forward.”